A quiet stretch of West 35th Street turned deadly in the early-morning hours of July 5, when a bicyclist was hit by a vehicle in the 1800 block and left critically injured. The rider later died at the hospital, and Austin police say the driver never stopped, sparking a full-on search for a car with front-end damage and anyone who saw what happened.
What APD posted
According to the Austin Police Department, officers were called out around 5:15 a.m. on July 5 for a crash involving a motor vehicle and a bicyclist in the 1800 block of West 35th Street. The case is listed under number 26-1860452.
Police identified the bicyclist as 63-year-old Chaw-Long Shih (born Jan. 5, 1961). Shih was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead on July 8.
Investigators say the suspect vehicle took off after the collision. They are looking for a blue 2016-2018 Honda Civic with noticeable front-end damage and are canvassing the neighborhood for witnesses and any cameras that might have captured the car.
How to help
The City of Austin notes that anyone with information can contact APD’s Vehicular Homicide Unit at 512-974-8111.
Anonymous tips can be submitted to Capital Area Crime Stoppers at 512-472-8477 or through the P3 Tips app. Investigators are especially interested in preserved dash-cam or doorbell footage from around the time of the crash and are urging anyone who finds relevant video to share it with detectives.
Legal context
Under Texas law, walking away from a deadly crash is not just callous, it is a crime. The Texas Transportation Code §550.021 requires drivers involved in a collision that causes death to stop and render aid.
Leaving the scene of a crash that results in death is classified as a second-degree felony, which can mean prison time and fines. Prosecutors can also stack on additional charges if the evidence supports it.
Where this fits
According to the Austin Police Department, this case is counted as Austin’s 43rd fatal crash of 2026, a grim milestone local officials monitor closely as part of the city’s safety efforts.
Vision Zero ATX and city traffic data show that cutting down on deadly collisions remains a central goal for Austin’s planners and enforcement agencies.
For now, detectives say the investigation into the July 5 hit-and-run remains active, and they are asking anyone who knows anything about the crash or the suspected Honda Civic to come forward.
